Protesters cut it fine in bald statement

“Hair peace” was one of John Lennon’s favoured puns as he let his locks flow in a bid to stop the Vietnam War.

European Voice

10/24/01, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 7:15 AM CET

Today’s protesters favour different methods. In Ghent a group called 11.11.11 urged supporters to “get bald as a political statement for a better world”. While other barbers closed for the day, the campaigners set up the Tobin Saloon, in honour of Nobel-winning economist James Tobin, one-time advocate of a tax on currency speculation.

Volunteers at the saloon shaved heads for free, while their promotional blurb invited sceptics to “get a fake bald head”.

The Three Elevens didn’t seem too miffed that Tobin recently claimed the anti-globalisation movement doesn’t represent his views or his admission that his proposal is a non-starter.

A cryptic message from the group read: “Despite the press communiqués, James Tobin himself is coming to Ghent.” Sadly, Entre Nous didn’t bump into him.